Thanksgiving miracle: baby beats cancer

GARDEN CITY, Mich. (WXYZ) - At two-years-old Avery Klemola has beaten not one form of cancer, but two. When she was just seven-months Avery had lung cancer and a tumor in her face.

On this Thanksgiving you can bet Avery, her mother and father, and her two big brothers, have a lot to be thankful for.

“I really didn’t know what the outcome would be,” said Sheila Klemola, Avery’s mother.

“I didn’t think she was going to be here. I really didn’t. I tried to be positive and you want to feel that for your child but it was a situation you’ve never been through, so you really don’t know,” Sheila said.

Avery didn’t show signs of cancer when she was born. The first signs of the disease – a swelling tumor that distorted her beautiful face.

“It was on her face – on her facial nerve, which was causing paralysis. But that all came back. And then it was in her lungs. It was stage four when they found it.” Sheila said.

The first few months of her precious life were bogged down with chemotherapy appointments and trips to the doctor’s office and hospital. To say it was an emotionally trying time for the family would be a huge understatement.

But the therapy worked and Avery has a clean bill of health. She and her family are enjoying a very happy Thanksgiving together.